22 Reasons Why I Love Europe
1. Ease of Travel via Train
Europe is a traveler’s dream. With dozens of different cultures in your backyard, you can easily hop on a train in be in another world with a completely different language, vast array of foods, city scene, and topography.
Arriving in Luxembourg via train
It’s truly incredible to have such adventure so accessible to you.
Flying from Madrid to Amsterdam
2. Coin Money
It sounds really miniscule & trivial, but I love that I can buy a bottle of water and a baguettes solely with coins.
Europe has “dollar value” coins.
I guess it’s really the simple things.
3. Colored Money
Where even the color of their currency depicts their lifestyle…
In the Montparnasse train station during my first time in Paris
4. Iron Gate Fences
I’m obsessed. I want to live in one more than anything I have ever wanted in my young life.
Paris near Gare du Nord; May 2019
5. No “Guilt” Consumerism Culture
I told this story in Luxembourg… but something that I can’t stand about shopping in the United States is the materialistic culture. The incessant sales. The red 2-for-1 signs everywhere that practically guilt you into buying two when you only really need one.
In European grocery markets, I have yet to seen an aisle plastered with red, orange, or yellow signs enticing me to buy more…
… and I love it.
6. Different Look on Healthcare
Little story time + glimpse into my life here so you can better understand what I mean.
I went to my wisdom tooth consultation (for the second time; still trying to find a surgeon I really like) yesterday, and he mentioned in our session,
“If we were in Sweden, we wouldn’t be taking out any of your wisdom teeth until you showed signs of pain.”
My left two wisdom teeth came in totally fine: straight, adjacent, they aren’t crowding any other teeth or causing any pain… yet, every surgeon I go to is trying to convince me to take them out solely for preventative measures even though there is nothing wrong with leaving them there.
Did you know that wisdom teeth removal is a huge money-making industry here in the states? That many people in the states have their wisdom teeth removed when they don’t really need to? That we put people under too often here for the procedure? That we’re known for taking our wisdom teeth out for no reason?
Yeah yeah yeah, theycould get a cavity and I might need to get it pulled eventually, but why open a whole other can of worms of complications (dry socket, infection, nerve damage, etc) when it’s not necessary? Shouldn’t I deal with those teeth when and if they cause problems?
I like to deal with things as they come. Apparently, so does Europe.
Not to mention… if you’re a citizen, you get free health care. I’m a firm believer that that’s the way it should be.
A country should want to take care of its citizens… and Europe seems to do a pretty good job of that.
P.S. – Yes, I’m aware that their taxes are much higher than ours.
P.S.S. – I don’t care and I would rather have higher taxes and free healthcare.
7. They Have Their Act Together Education Wise
Sorry, United States – but waiting until the age of fourteen to require me to enroll in Spanish will most definitely decrease my chances at ever speaking with proper fluency.
Countries like Germany, Switzerland, and Netherlands really have it together. From what I’ve come across, many Europeans tend to speak a minimum of 3+ languages…
… also, their college isn’t insanely unaffordable the way that ours is. Obviously, they’re doing something right that we’re not.
8. Cheap, Fresh, Delicious Bread
Especially when in France. I plan of living off of baguettes, and subsequently, saving a lot of money.
9. Chocolate
Austria, Czech Republic, Switzerland and Germany have been the saviors, here.
They have so many trendy, dairy-free chocolate bar options it’s insane.
Some of my favorites…
I get this one from a grocery store called, “Coop” in Switzerland. It’s the perfect combination of dark chocolate, crunch, and fruity tang. Ugh. I’m depressed that I currently have no more bars of this one.
Found these in Ireland and freaked out at the first bite. Basically a super-sugary-sweet marshmallow shortbread cookie bar. Covered in chocolate. And it’s vegan… what?!
Anything iChoc is good. I’ve tried quite a few, right now - the hazelnut one in the green packaging is my favorite.
Found this for the first time in Prague. Never thought I would see it again… and then (loudly) exclaimed in a BioMarkt in Munich when I saw they sold them. Honestly I think the best dark chocolate bar I’ve had in my life… (and I eat a lot of chocolate). It also has the quintessential “europeans love hazelnut” crunch to it :)
P.S. – I may or may not have brought back thirteen bars of chocolate with me from this last trip…
10. BioMarkt & Clearly Marked Labels
When I go to Germany, I wave my Euros goodbye. It’s the most insanely awesome place for health-food-nerds like me. They have things that I have yet to find here in the United States. The vegan chocolate bars, caramel sauces, and phony meats…
I’m obsessed with this specific chocolate soy milk. I buy & drink it every time I’m in Europe.
The morning of my 20th birthday done right in Luzern, Switzerland. So heavenly…
I also love how thinks are clearly marked, “vegetarian”, “vegan”, etc…
In the United States, I have to read the (long) list of ingredients… on everything.
11. Public Transportation is Amazing!
No need to own a car in Europe… and all I can say is bless, for that. Metros, buses, trams… public transportation is so easy and accessible all over European cities. Not only do you not have the aggravation of driving & traffic, but there’s no need to be paying car expenses, either.
Talk about a win win.
12. Working to Live – Not Living to Work
When in the United States, the first thing people will ask me is this,
“What school do you go to? What’s your major?”
It is automatically assumed that I am going to college. When I graduate, it’ll be,
“So, Stephanie – what do you do for a living?”
I have never, not once, been asked about my education or job (unless I brought it up) by a European I had just met. It’s no secret that as Americans, we are very career driven… there is nothing bad about that, but I like how in Europe, my career and education don’t seem to define me.
13. Excuses to Relax in Parks
And do the, “European Thing” as I call it. Most of the time, I like to grab my journal and write as I watch them smoke their cigarettes, play catch, or take their siestas on the grass. Never will you find the same kind of atmosphere in Central Park… but all over Europe, no matter where you go, the calming vibe is consistent.
Sitting in St. Stephen’s Green in Dublin; June 2019
It even calms me down… and for a place to have such a grounding force over someone so energetic… is incredible, all on its own.
14. Actual, Vacation Time
We get a maximum of two weeks of vacation time in the United States. Personally, I think that’s so wrong and reveals how poorly we have placed our priorities.
Australia and New Zealand even have long service leave: which is where after ten years, they are eligible to take up to three consecutive months off given they’ve been loyal to said company.
France gets five weeks of vacation time… that’s more than double what we get here in the United States.
Again, it’s a matter of “living to work” or “working to live”...
… and I prefer the latter.
15. No Being Rushed in Restaurants!
In the United States, restaurants and waiters will always rush you through your meal. They will check up on you as you’re eating. You have to wait for them to refill your water. They will bring you the bill, and when they do, you are expected to pay immediately and proceed to leave as soon as possible.
It ruins the experience and fun of eating out.
Whereas in Europe, you are often the one to ask for the check. I can sit in restaurants for 2 hours, writing away whilst people watching in my journal… and they couldn’t care less. In the U.S., they would be asking me to leave to clear the table for new customers.
When we were in Italy, it gave my Brooklyn-native mother literal anxiety to have to get their attention to bring us the check. She said, quote,
“This is so frustrating… why don’t you go to the counter and get the check, European girl?”
Lunch at leisure in Siena, Italy; July 2018
Happily pouring my own water in Antwerp; June 2019
As an extremely independent woman, I like these kinds of things.
16. Air Kisses
In Lisbon, in the hostel I was staying at (GoodMorning Hostel – could not recommend more!), the staff was cooking in the kitchen and preparing for a huge party. They were playing music, chatting, dancing…
… I was talking to one of the staff members, and one of her friends arrived. She was air kissing everyone. I had never met her before, but she insisted that we air kiss. With the entire European staff surrounding me, I exclaimed,
“Oh my god, I love it here, I’m moving here!”
I then proceeded to smile and giddily laugh just thinking about those air kiss greetings.
That same evening, I struck up a long conversation with a guy from the Swiss Alps and two girls from Germany on a sister trip. Another girl I had befriended, from the French Alps, would blow me air kisses from across the room.
That moment burns in my mind – how happy and at home I felt in such an effervescent presence of joy, and how no words could explain just how at home I felt.
17. Cobblestone Streets
My mom thinks that they’re bad for your feet…
Near Place de la Concorde in Paris; May 2019
… and I so don’t care.
18. Blunt, Directly Translated European Diction
I told this story in Lisbon as well. My friend from the French alps could tell I needed a break, and said to me,
“Look, if I am bothering you, or you want to go off and I meet you back at the hostel, it is fine.”
Many Americans would take that as abrupt or rude. I still initially take it that way, but at the end of the day – I appreciate how they say what it is they want to say; how things are black-and-white.
There’s no over thinking it.
For a girl who over analyzes everything under the sun... let’s just say, it’s a nice break.
In the U.S., we tend to beat around the bush in attempts of being polite as possible. When we say, “How are you?”, we don’t really mean it – you’re expected to answer with, “Good” or “Fine” following with an, “and you?”…
… in Europe, if someone asks me how I am – I feel free to answer it honestly.
19. Incessant Beauty & Diversity
Like I mentioned, Europe is a traveler’s wonderland… you can be in the mountains or a new city so quickly, and somehow – nothing looks exactly the same twice.
Riding through the Swiss Alps; May 2017
20. The Toilets
Okay, yes, this sounds weird off the bat… my mom hates that so many countries in Europe charge you to use the restroom (usually around €1), but I love the buttons to flush the toilet. I seriously think we would all be less stressed here in the U.S. if we switched from levers to buttons, as well!
P.S. – the fact that they call it the ‘toilet’ instead of ‘restroom’
P.S.S. – the fact that it’s called ‘W.C.’ sometimes.
21. I Find Something Else That I Like…
… every time, that I’m there.
Landing in Ireland :)
22. My Heart Has Found its Home
There is a profound peace whenever I am there… when I sit on trains, this bizarre calmness radiates in my entire body. There’s nothing new to worry about. Everything just is.
Flying into Lisbon; June 2019
The list could go on… but the truth is, I have travelled all over the United States, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, soon Japan…
… but no place on Earth has ever even come close to matching the way I feel when I’m in Europe.
I guess what they say really is true.
When you know, you know.